Home Is Where Your Art Is: A Conversation With Aaron Cohen

Aaron Cohen is well traveled. He’s a young man but properly weathered from seasons of coast to coast treks. He’s from Washington, breathes NYC, and spent a stint in the City of Angels. Regardless of his coordinates, there’s a constant. Cohen makes gritty, focused hip hop that gains steam and momentum with each project. Go back and listen to his catalog. His skin is thickening as he maneuvers the game while we watch it unfold. Home Less, is his most personal release to date, highlighting the coming of age of he and his Inner City Kids crew.

JD: You’re originally from Seattle, and then Queens, now LA? Do you think where you’re at influences the sounds you create?

Aaron Cohen: Yeah, I think every aspect of my life affects my sound. So definitely where I’m at would impact the music. The Seattle aspect of me is there no matter where I go; that’s my home. Everything I do will be raw and grunge because of that. The hustle and speed of New York affects my mentality when I’m making music. I was only in LA a few months, so I can’t speak about it like Seattle or New York. I’m back in Queens now.

JD: How’s the reaction been to Home Less? It’s a project that feels personal.

Cohen: The reaction to Home Less has been good. Yeah, it’s a personal project. I feel like in general the more personal I get, the better the music is. The more people relate to it. At a certain point, you have to get personal and talk about your life and perspective, because what the fuck else are you going to talk about? I can’t just talk shit. It’s fun, but not as important as really expressing myself.

JD: What’s the key to writing a dope verse? Is there a science, or is it more of a vibe?

Cohen: For me, it’s all about the beat. If I’m feeling the beat, the verse just comes to me. I don’t write things down, I just walk around with headphones on, letting the words come to me. Then I just focus real hard to organize the whole verse in my mind. As I’m working, I feel the words and melodies filling up the spaces that need to be filled with the music. It’s hard to explain, it’s almost visual.

JD: You’ve toured a bunch in Europe. How’s the response been in other countries?

Cohen: The response has been great. All of the European crowds I’ve performed for have shown a lot of love. I think they just have a deep love for underground music and art in general. I’m grateful that they fuck with me.

JD: Do you have any desire to work with a label? Is DIY the new major?

Cohen: I just want to make the music I want to make and still be able to reach lots of people. Whatever method allows me to do that is cool, whether it’s with a label or not. I think either way you have to build a fan base for yourself. That’s power, and you’re not going to get what you want from yourself or a label if you’re out here powerless. Musicians with fans have real careers.

JD: Sum up your style in five words or less.

Cohen: Trying to always get better.

JD: If you could step into a cypher with three MC’s, living or dead, who’s it going to be?

Cohen: Andre 3000, Cam’ron and Kanye.

JD: Future plans; What’s next for Aaron Cohen?

Cohen: I’m working on a new project called Matter. It’s the most intense project I’ve ever done, and I think it’s a whole new level of music from me. Kemal (in-house producer for Inner City Kids) is producing the whole thing, so it’s got a really strong cohesive sound going. I can’t wait for the world to hear it.

–Big thanks to Aaron for taking the time to speak with Above Average Hip Hop. Check him out on Twitter @AaronCohenRap, and IG @aaroncohenmusic. Home Less is available wherever you buy your digital music. Support real art!

My name is J.D, the music fanatic, writer, blogger, and educator. I've been in love with hip hop since Bishop got too close to the ledge. If it moves me, I'll cover it. I've written an unpublished novel, created Shiny Glass Houses, and had my work featured on the Bloglin for Mishka NYC. I'm lurking in the shadows on twitter @ThexGlassxHouse. Read. Comment. Get money.

The Dallas-native has singlehandedly chronicled a resume that will be studied and attempted to be emulated for generations to come. Platinum singles, a-list collaborations, critically-acclaimed mixtapes, stamps from legends like Chris Brown, L.A. Reid and the late-Nipsey Hussle and all of this before even releasing a debut album. Today, the “That’s On Me” hitmaker talks about his journey to the top with correspondent Boom in a new interview for 50 Cent outlet, Thisis50.

During the interview, Yella Beezy talks Dallas’s current musical landscape, provides details on the new album, bad contracts, business outside of music, Drake, Nipsey Hussle, Errol Spence Jr, L.A. Reid and more. Baccen Beezy is currently promoting his new single, “Keep It In The Streets” as he readies a new single with Young Thug, titled, “Headloc,” scheduled for release this month.

In today’s Hip Hop, jewelry is as essential as the raps. Artists have to always shine bright and what better way to do that than with a never-before-seen piece of jewelry that catches everyone’s attention. This is where Mississippi jeweler, Kris Jewelers comes in. Kris is one of the hottest new jewelers in today’s Hip Hop who has become a most-sought-after industry go-to in 2019.

Unique, signature style, reliable and one-of-kind, many of today’s biggest recording artists seek out this Mississippi-native for his originality and authenticity. Its trust that Kris has earned from many of today’s biggest stars whose pieces have received rave reviews and drawn more and more artists to his southern design.

Through word-of-mouth, Kris Jewelers has accumulated a who’s who clientele which includes music’s biggest names like Jeremih, Blueface, Swae Lee, Birdman and many more. Not just music, Kris has created several priceless pieces for professional athletes in both NFL and NBA.

Kris Jewelers’ collection is available now at his Northpark Mall store in Ridgeland, Mississippi. You may also purchase custom design jewelry today online at the official Kris Jewelers website.

Follow Kris Jeweler on Instagram for daily updates on new collections and clients.

The rapper Lil X, born in El Paso, Texas, is crafting an undeniable path to the top right now. Young, rowdy, and popular, he is achieving viral attention with his new project, New Kid on the Block, and the project’s breakout hits, “Galaxy” and “Bands All Done”. On the verge of becoming a social firestorm, we sit down with the star on the rise to get familiar with who he is, where he’s from, what he’s about and what he has in store.

[AAHH]: What was it like growing up where you are from?

[Lil X]: It was fine, I got to do what I wanted. El Paso is right on the border of Mexico so there is lots of tradition and mixed culture.

Has your family been supportive of your career?

Yes my family has been supportive and I know they are trying to understand what I’m doing and one day fully learns what I’m creating and what I’m making.

If you had to choose one record for someone to listen to from you, what would it be?

Greatness, its uplifting and gives off a different feel. I personally say most people would enjoy this song.

Was “New Kid on the Block” your debut project or can new fans find more of your catalog elsewhere?

It was mostly my debut project but im going to be releasing more music soon.

Can you describe the creative process behind “New Kid on the Block”?

Well I sat down in my room and I played the beat and found were the words would fit and then created the correct melody and bam I took out each song one by one.

What are the singles from your latest project?

Galaxy, Pouri’n, and Bands All Done.

Any notable producers you are working with or want to work with?

I think Reazy Renegade is a great producer I work with. I would like to work with Molly Raw and Muder Beats in the future.

Any big-name features in the vault that we could expect anytime soon?

I have a couple of people that I’m talking with but I don’t want to give them up yet.

You’re only 16 so we wanted to ask you a random question. Can you name 5 Lil Wayne records? If so what are your favorite 5?

Yes I’m going to go with How to love, A Milli, Mona Lisa, 6 Foot 7 Foot, and Lollipop.

If you could choose 3 people to be on your next project who would it be?

I would probably go with Tavis Scott, Lil Skies, and Lil Uzi Vert.

Any label attention or calls right now?

I have a lot of different things happening and I’m looking for my best options before I sign to anything.

There is a viral video spreading like wildfire across Instagram right now. In the video, an unknown person pulls up to a school an proceeds to throw out stacks of cash to a crowd of children. As the blue faces fly out, the car is instantly surrounded by screaming kids. Like Robin Hood, the mysterious figure is giving back to the children similar to the legendary story tales.

In real-time, the gesture went viral, through word of mouth, and was later posted by the Instagram account belonging to Yun Gunna of Inland Empire. Real money, real kids, who also kept the money, led to thousands of intrigued Instagram users following the account.

Shown below, the now-infamous post from the artist’s point-of-view and the fan’s point-of-view.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B27pLEWADM1/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2fePQeg3UY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

To date, the video has gone viral, accumulating over 19,000 views and growing. Kids all over the world have commented on the video with various statements, including, requests to come to their schools.

Who is Yun Gunna? A Riverside-based rapper who created a buzzworthy sound with riot-starting rhymes, practical joking antics and energetic persona. A magnetic personality, Yun Gunna is quickly becoming one of the hottest new artists on the West Coast. Gunna’s biggest track to-date is the Black Mayo-produced, “Mean to Me” off his 2018 effort, Yun Glow Up.

On breakout tracks like “Check” and “Push Start”, Yun Gunna shows us a side of West Coast Hip Hop that has yet to be seen in reckless fun, high-energy, talented rhymes and his following displays the infectious impact he has on his Inland Empire surroundings. Stream the commercial hits now, and run through his complete catalog today via Soundcloud.

Music aside, if you are looking to just follow Yun Gunna and his viral antics on Instagram, simply click here. Kids, feel free to leave a comment of your school and see if Yun Gunna will surprise you with a pull up.